Hi all! I am a long time lurker whom has never posted. I have been watching the show and FWWM since the 90s. And of course, and neck deep in attempting to process The Return.
I have watched Parts 17 & 18 several times over the past few days, attempting to sort it all out. I know, welcome to the dang club!
Here is a very fledgling theory I have just come up with. I could be waaay off, but wanted to share.
Cooper isn't really "Cooper." Never was. He is a man who has schizophrenia. His many personalities include Dale, Richard, Dougie, Mr. C., Leland, and the young Tremont/Chalfont child (his true identity). His mother was Mrs. Tremont/Chalfont. He was a troubled young child who practiced magic and looked for an escape from his torment. He got into some trouble with girls at a young age and finally graduated into a serial killer. He has murdered many women, including Laura, Audrey, Teresa Banks, and Diane. His various personalities are all over the spectrum from good, innocent, and evil. The entire show is about his final reckoning in facing who he really is and the madness he has endured on his path to reality. The madness has included tracing back his steps from his wrong-doing and trying to make it "right." Even to the point of travelling back in time and erasing his crimes. He has created a fantasy world to excuse his behavior - evil forces, being possessed by BOB, etc. His Coop personality is the do-gooder, trying to save them all. But he can't undo it all and can't bring back the women he has harmed.
This is rapid fire, as I just came up with this.
I dunno guys...feel free to poke holes in this!! I could be so wrong, but I feel I am onto something...
Cool.
Welcome to the forum Dianna!
Like everyone else, I've been thinking about Twin Peaks daily, it's just won't leave my head. I too have thought about the horrifying possibility that Agent Cooper was never Agent Cooper, but is instead a man named Richard. And that Diane was never Diane, but a woman named Linda.
But one thing gives me hope that that theory isn't true. The very opening scene between the Fireman and Cooper. When the Fireman told Cooper to remember 3 things, instead of being riddles like they were the first time the Fireman told Cooper 3 things, Cooper replied very confidently with "I understand." Of course, we, the viewers didn't understand at the time what the Fireman was referring to, but it was good to know that Cooper did. Obviously, his 25 years of being trapped in the Lodge, meant that he had a deeper understanding of what was going on than what we were privy to.
So if Cooper understood what the Fireman was telling him, that is a good sign. And in Episode 18, he and Diane were ready to do what they needed to do, which was to drive 430 miles away from Twin Peaks. And ready to confront Richard and Linda, and ready to fight two birds with one stone. This is the only hope I have that there could be a possible continuation of Twin Peaks.
But if your theory is right Dianna, then it could very well be a Mulholland Drive type ending that Lynch was going for, and that is what scares me.
The phrase "We live inside a dream" was repeated far too much by too many important characters, and that worries me.
Hi all! I am a long time lurker whom has never posted. I have been watching the show and FWWM since the 90s. And of course, and neck deep in attempting to process The Return.
I have watched Parts 17 & 18 several times over the past few days, attempting to sort it all out. I know, welcome to the dang club!
Here is a very fledgling theory I have just come up with. I could be waaay off, but wanted to share.
Cooper isn't really "Cooper." Never was. He is a man who has schizophrenia. His many personalities include Dale, Richard, Dougie, Mr. C., Leland, and the young Tremont/Chalfont child (his true identity). His mother was Mrs. Tremont/Chalfont. He was a troubled young child who practiced magic and looked for an escape from his torment. He got into some trouble with girls at a young age and finally graduated into a serial killer. He has murdered many women, including Laura, Audrey, Teresa Banks, and Diane. His various personalities are all over the spectrum from good, innocent, and evil. The entire show is about his final reckoning in facing who he really is and the madness he has endured on his path to reality. The madness has included tracing back his steps from his wrong-doing and trying to make it "right." Even to the point of travelling back in time and erasing his crimes. He has created a fantasy world to excuse his behavior - evil forces, being possessed by BOB, etc. His Coop personality is the do-gooder, trying to save them all. But he can't undo it all and can't bring back the women he has harmed.
This is rapid fire, as I just came up with this.
I dunno guys...feel free to poke holes in this!! I could be so wrong, but I feel I am onto something...
Hi Dianna, if you are right or not, i like the theory ! Always great to see people who come with different great theories like you !
Or it could be that the ending was the dream and that everything else was real.
Hi all! I am a long time lurker whom has never posted. I have been watching the show and FWWM since the 90s. And of course, and neck deep in attempting to process The Return.
I have watched Parts 17 & 18 several times over the past few days, attempting to sort it all out. I know, welcome to the dang club!
Here is a very fledgling theory I have just come up with. I could be waaay off, but wanted to share.
Cooper isn't really "Cooper." Never was. He is a man who has schizophrenia. His many personalities include Dale, Richard, Dougie, Mr. C., Leland, and the young Tremont/Chalfont child (his true identity). His mother was Mrs. Tremont/Chalfont. He was a troubled young child who practiced magic and looked for an escape from his torment. He got into some trouble with girls at a young age and finally graduated into a serial killer. He has murdered many women, including Laura, Audrey, Teresa Banks, and Diane. His various personalities are all over the spectrum from good, innocent, and evil. The entire show is about his final reckoning in facing who he really is and the madness he has endured on his path to reality. The madness has included tracing back his steps from his wrong-doing and trying to make it "right." Even to the point of travelling back in time and erasing his crimes. He has created a fantasy world to excuse his behavior - evil forces, being possessed by BOB, etc. His Coop personality is the do-gooder, trying to save them all. But he can't undo it all and can't bring back the women he has harmed.
This is rapid fire, as I just came up with this.
I dunno guys...feel free to poke holes in this!! I could be so wrong, but I feel I am onto something...
Hi Dianna, if you are right or not, i like the theory ! Always great to see people who come with different great theories like you !
Seconded. Although I would say, and I'm sure I'm only echoing David Lynch here, there are not right or wrong reactions or 'theories'. If that's how you read it and that works for you, then great.
FWIW I have a COMPLETELY different take and that's the beauty of it probably, it's an open ended mystery.
But im still convinced, because Frost is involved, there is a definitive take that was in the creators minds. We can either accept our own reads or attempt to figure what was in the creators.
And - it just occurred to me - there may even be two takes (or more) in the creators heads - Frost's vision, and David's
Thank you all for your replies! You all bring up some great points. Here are some additional ideas, in support of my theory.
“Agent Cooper… Listen to the sounds.
It is in our house now.
It all cannot be said aloud now.
Remember 4 3 0. Richard and Linda. Two birds with one stone. You are far away.”
I believe the Fireman is a force of "good" that the schizophrenic man (let's call him "Cooper") has created in his mind. The Fireman struggles to suppress the evil personality (Mr. C) from emerging. He provides him with clues and other pieces of info to help him control which of his personalities will emerge.
"Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see, one chance outbetween two worlds, fire walk with me".
This is the line in Part 17 that brought me to the conclusion that "Cooper" is the Tremond/Chalfont child (grandson, I suppose). If you read biographies that are available, this young child was practicing magic. I believe MIKE/Gerard/One armed man is the "guide" that takes "Cooper" from his good force (Fireman) and his evil force (either JUDY/mother OR the Tree/Arm...not sure which).
I am still contemplating the role Phillip Jeffries plays. I suppose he could be the conduit that permits "Cooper" to change time/location at will (in his own mind), in his attempt to revisit former scenes of his crimes to try to change history.
Some other random thoughts/observations. It is all jumbled up, as I believe the sequence of time in the show is not linear. We jump from different places in time and it is not sequential.
1) "Cooper's childhood home is the Palmer house and thus, Alice Tremond may be his mother. Or she is his wife and he (Richard) is the man she is talking to, when "Cooper" and Laura/Carrie are on the front porch, asking about the owners of the home.
2) When "Cooper" changes personalities, you hear/see "electricity."
3) I previously stated that I believe "Cooper's" true identity is the Tremond/Chalfont grandson. I still believe this, and believe his true first name is Richard. Richard is the perfect blend of evil and good Coop. In other words, Richard is both good and bad, depending on the situation when he is in his true personality.
4) Linda was "Cooper's" (Richard's) real life girlfriend. She stayed with him throughout some tough times (his changing in personalities) and has had enough. That is why she was very upset when they arrived at the motel and kept covering up his face during their sex scene. She saw him changing into Mr. C during sex. She either left him or he murdered her. Not sure which just yet.
5) When "Cooper" and Diane were driving towards 4 3 0, he was in his Cooper personality. Once they crossed over, he became Richard again. When he woke up and read Linda's note to Richard, he was in his Cooper personality. THEN, when he leaves the motel, this was a different time/place than when they arrived at the motel and had sex. He wakes up as Richard and exits the motel to search for Laura. Again, different day, different place.
6) During the scene at the diner (Judy's), he was Richard. He was neither good nor bad, but a blend of both (again, his true personality). THEN, when he arrives in front of Laura/Carrie's house, electricity once again is heard and he becomes his Cooper personality.
7) He was in his Cooper personality when he and Laura/Carrie arrive at his childhood home (which we know as Laura's home from the show). Since he is Cooper and not his true personality of Richard, he is confused and doesn't truly realize that this was his house and the woman he is speaking with is actually his wife/mother (not sure which).
8) Of all of the characters of the Twin Peaks universe, "Cooper's" parents are the only ones that weren't given a first or last name. That is another reason I am leaning on the theory that they are Tremond/Chalfonts and his mother may be either Judy or Alice. "Major Briggs" may be his father. In the book (mentioned in the one named below) we know "Cooper's father was obsessed with aliens, etc.
9) In the book "The Autobiography of F.B.I. Special Agent Dale Cooper: My Life, My Tapes" we learn that:
a) "Cooper's" mother had visions and saw BOB. She was likely a schizophrenic, as well. It is very much a hereditary disease
b) "Cooper" had trouble with girls as a young boy. He had inappropriate encounters and was a peeping Tom. This leads us to know that good Coop is not his true personality.
10) "Cooper" (Richard) was likely not only a serial killer, but also a rapist.
11) Laura Palmer/Carrie Page was likely his first victim. That is why she is "the one." She is also the "little girl that lived down the lane." If he can erase her murder, he can become the good person he has always wanted to be and make it all right. OR, Audrey may have been the first victim. If that is true, Laura may have been the last victim. Which would mean Audrey is the little girl that lived down the lane. He may have only raped her, versus murder her.
12) The lodges and convenience store are where all his personalities, guides, and others meet and exist. Still working on developing this theory.
13) When Laura/Carrie whispers into his ear and he appears horrified, that is when he finally realized who/what he is. She told him he killed her. He is a sick man who has committed atrocities. He is trapped and can't change it. This is why his shocked face is superimposed on the screen during the big showdown scene in Part 17. He is trying to "kill" his evil personality, once and for all.
Again, these are all just my own opinions and thoughts!
Hi Dianna, I suggested something similar to this a few days ago, most of my info came from the book My Life My Tapes - The Autobiuography of Dale Cooper.
imo Coop has been possessed by BOB since he was young and has been murdering ever since then. The book describes many murders of people who were close to Coop but he does not remember any incidents occurring... BOB appears to him and his mother in their dreams, and Coop's book is also missing many sections. At one stage he has a casual sex partner named Andy, her father is a fireman and she leaves Coop to move to Holland... The plot thickens considerably, and I think the Dark Side of Coop theory is given more credence from watching episode 8 & 18 at the same time..
Just saw your response including info re the Autobiography..... You're on the same page as I am, so to speak!
Ah, so instead of a St Elswhere ending, we get a Jagged Edge one, instead?
That would be one hell of a reveal if it's correct.
I had my screens positioned one above the other when I watched 8 and 18 - 8 on top and 18 below it. At the moment BOB is born, he/it literally descended right onto confused Cooper's head as he sat pondering who Richard is. This is after the intensely evil Black Lodge / Woodsman scene that overlays the climax of Coop and Diane having sex. Having read Coop's book, that seemed like clarification on the whole theory.
Hi Dianna, I suggested something similar to this a few days ago, most of my info came from the book My Life My Tapes - The Autobiuography of Dale Cooper.
imo Coop has been possessed by BOB since he was young and has been murdering ever since then. The book describes many murders of people who were close to Coop but he does not remember any incidents occurring... BOB appears to him and his mother in their dreams, and Coop's book is also missing many sections. At one stage he has a casual sex partner named Andy, her father is a fireman and she leaves Coop to move to Holland... The plot thickens considerably, and I think the Dark Side of Coop theory is given more credence from watching episode 8 & 18 at the same time..
So in your theory, he is actually possessed by an evil spirit? This is also possible, of course! In my theory, there was no true evil possession by BOB. It is just the entity (he has created in his mind) that exists within himself when he is in his evil personality. But hey, who knows??
I had my screens positioned one above the other when I watched 8 and 18 - 8 on top and 18 below it. At the moment BOB is born, he/it literally descended right onto confused Cooper's head as he sat pondering who Richard is. This is after the intensely evil Black Lodge / Woodsman scene that overlays the climax of Coop and Diane having sex. Having read Coop's book, that seemed like clarification on the whole theory.
YES - brilliant observation!!
Or it could be that the ending was the dream and that everything else was real.
Of course, anything is possible. The entire original series and the Return just seem to me like mainly a dream sequence, though. The characters and situations are just too "out there" for it to be reality, in my opinion. He ("Cooper") even says in Part 17, "I hope to see you all again - all of you" and "see you at the curtain call." This tells me these are all characters he has made up in his head during his dream(s).
Fire walk with